The budget doesn't go through: The Economic Resurrection Bill fails again

The Commission for Buzhet and Transfere has not given support to the draft budget 2021, as there was no decision taking the vote. Vetevendosje deputies (VV) and the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), even though present, did not vote at all.

Because of its failure to make decisions, the Commission has postponed the vote on the draft economic recovery bill for another meeting.

The discussion of Project Project 2021 on the Programme and Transfera Commission that lasted about three hours, Deputy Finance Minister Agim Krasniqi has said that this stable budget for next year depends greatly on the approval of the Paco for Economic Resilience.

“If the adoption of the Economic Recovery Bill doesn't happen soon, there will also be big budget consequences for 2021, and the private sector can continue to suffer further. And it also does not rule out the possibility to affect public sector salaries”, Krasniqi said.

As for budgetary divisions and criticism from the opposition for increasing the budget for asphalt and reducing means for health, Krasniqi said projects in infrastructure are unfortunately ongoing, and are forced to realise not to be penalised.

The “is meaningless that the number of disabled war and war veterans has increased. These categories are making us have budgetary shortcomings for 30m euros per year. In health, unfortunately, it's just like the MPs posted. We think that with continued support for this sector, additional financial means” will be found, Krasniqi said.

Commission Chairman Hekuran Murati said there are reductions of the budget for the Ministry of Health, while the tools for Czech Finance Minister blanko have been allocated without their destination.

Murati has even asked to return to Government for completion of change.

“This bill must go back, because it does not meet the criteria either for voting”, he said.

MP from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Gazmend Abrashi has argued the government's focus on infrastructure projects.

Many projects have remained unfulfilled for years, they must be built because they are contracted”, he said.